Shoe strap



Oct. 20, 1931.

J. SERLA 1,828,512

SHOE STRAP Filed Dec. 7. 1929 Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN SEBLA, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SHOE STRAP Application filed December 7, 1929. Serial No. 412,377.

This invention relates to an improved construction of cross straps for shoes, or slippers, commonly called pumps; and has for its object to provide a shoe strap of this character consisting of elastic 'members connected to the margin of the shoe upper, the elastic members being arranged to extend over the instep of the wearer to assist in retaining the shoe in position on the foot.

A further object of the invention is to form the strap of a plurality of elastic members and to mount an ornament on the same, to be attached to the shoe and extend over the in step of the wearer.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings; but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted towithout departingfrom the scope of the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, ref erence is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and wherein like characters of references indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a side View illustrating the improved instep strap as applied to a shoe,

Figure 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the improved strap,

Figure 4 is a view of the ornament holder, and

Figure 5 is a view showing the ornament holder before it is bent toreceive the ornament.

It is often desirable and of advantage to wearers of that style of shoe known as a pump or slipper to provide a cross strap to extend over the ankle or instep as an ornament or for the purpose of assisting in retaining the shoe on the foot, and it is also often found of particular advantage to form this strap flexible. It is also found that this strap may be made extremely ornamental and attractive if provided with an ornament of suitable color to match the shoe to which it is attached; and it is also found of advantage to form the strap'of, a plurality of elastic members which are adapted to exert a flexible tension on the instep of the wearer to assist 'in retaining the shoe inposition on the foot. The following isa detailed description of the present embodiment of the invention and showing one construction of the strap by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

' With references to the drawings, 10 designates the strap which is formed of a plurality of elastic members 11, 12 and 13, each comprising strandsof Vienna cord or the like.

To the upper 14 of the shoe 15 is sewed tabs 16 as shownby Figure 1. The elastic members are placed side by side and a leather strip17 placed around the top of the tabs and the ends of ,the elastic strands, the

leather strip 17 and end of the strands are thensewed totheshoe and thus the elastic strands aresecurely fastened to the shoe upper.

At the mid portion of the elastic strands is secured a member 18 whichhas a dual function, serving as means of holding the elastic strands in fixed relation to each other and at the same time serving as an ornament. The member 18 consists of a metal unit 19, ornamental stone20 and protecting pad 21.

5 The metal unit 19 is stamped out of thin sheet material intothe form shown in Figure 5 and then the edges 22 and 23 are bent in the position as shown in Figure 4. The elastic strands pass through apertures 25, 26 and 27 in the metal unit 19 and thus they are held in spaced relation to each other. The ornamentalstone 20 is secured in the metal holder 19 by the serrated edges 28 being bent against'the stone. The ornamental stone 20 is made of celluloid material and in any desired color, but it is to be understood that other material may be utilized in making the stone. There may be glued or otherwise secured to the back of metal holder 18. a thin piece ofleather to protect the foot of the wearer from the metal holder.

I have herein shown an instep strap for a shoe as formed of elastic strands with ornamental member secured to the strands and serving to hold the strand in fixed relation to each other, but I do not wish to be restricted to this exact construction of the strap or the manner of securing it to the shoes, as any means of holding elastic strands in fixed relation to each other, or any means of securing the strands to the shoe will fall within the spirit and scope of this invention.

The foregoing description is directed sole ly towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only.

by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: r

1. A shoe strap comprising a plurality of elastic strands each of which is of suificient length to extend from opposite margins of the shoe across the instepof the wearer, a metal unit provided with a series of spaced openings on the longitudinal sides thereof, said strands passing through said openings and over said metal unit, and an ornamental stone secured in said metal unit so as to concoal the strands passing over said metal unit.

2. In a shoe strap comprising a plurality of strands, means for holding said strands in fixed relation to each other including a metal unit formed from a single sheet of metal, said metal unit having upwardly extending edges containing'a series of spaced openings for said strands, and an ornamental stone in said metal unit secured tightly against said strands by said upwardly extending edges. v

3. A shoe strap comprising a plurality of elastic strands each of which is of sufficient length to extend from opposite margins of the shoe across the instep of the wearer, a

metal unit provided with a series of spaced openings on each side thereof, said strands passing through said openings, and a protecting pad secured to said metal unit on the underside thereof. V 4. In ashoestrap comprising a plurality of strands, means for holding said strands in fixed relation to each other comprising a metal unit, said metal unit having upwardly extend ng edges containing a series of spaced openings for said strands. I i l 5. In a shoe strap comprising a plurality of strands, means for holding said strands in fixed relation to each other comprising a metal unit, said metal unit having upwardly extending edges containing a serles of spaced openings for said strands and an ornamental member in said metal unlt secured tightly against said strands by said upwardly extending edges.

- JOHN SERLA. 

